Nicotine receptor agonists in stem cell and progenitor cell recruitment

ABSTRACT

The present invention features methods for recruitment of bone marrow-derived stem cells (e.g., endothelial cell precursors, hematopoietic stem cells) by administration of nicotine or other nicotine receptor agonist. The methods of the invention can be used in, for example, treatment of conditions amenable to treatment by recruitment of bone marrow-derived stem cells (e.g., neutropenia).

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/627,643, filed Jul. 28, 2000, which application claims the benefit of prior U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/146,233, filed Jul. 28, 1999, and of prior U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/188,300, filed Mar. 10, 1999, which applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of mobilization and recruitment of stem cells and progenitor cells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recruitment and renewal of stem cells and/or progenitor cells are important in a variety of applications. Prior to bone marrow transplantation, e.g., expansion and mobilization of the pool of hematopoietic stem cells is critical. Repopulation of the stem cell compartment post irradiation or following chemotherapy also requires expansion or renewal of hematopoietic stem cells. Other disorders that would benefit from proliferation and/or mobilization of stems cells and/or progenitor cells include blood cell dyscrasias such as neutropenia, leucopenia, acquired immunodeficiencies, and the like.

Vasculogenesis, which involves the growth of vessels derived from endothelial progenitor cells, is a further example of a process that involves recruitment and/or renewal of stems cells and/or progenitor cells. Vasculogenesis, as well as angiogenesis, the process by which new blood vessels are formed from extant capillaries, and the factors that regulate these processes, are important in embryonic development, inflammation, and wound healing, and also contribute to pathologic conditions such as tumor growth, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic inflammatory diseases (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,957; Yancopoulos et al. (1998) Cell 93:661-4; Folkman et al. (1996) Cell 87;1153-5; and Hanahan et al. (1996) Cell 86:353-64).

Both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis involve the proliferation of endothelial cells. Endothelial cells line the walls of blood vessels; capillaries are comprised almost entirely of endothelial cells. The angiogenic process involves not only increased endothelial cell proliferation, but also comprises a cascade of additional events, including protease secretion by endothelial cells, degradation of the basement membrane, migration through the surrounding matrix, proliferation, alignment, differentiation into tube-like structures, and synthesis of a new basement membrane. Vasculogenesis involves recruitment and differentiation of mesenchymal cells into angioblasts, which then differentiate into endothelial cells which then form de novo vessels (see, e.g., Folkman et al. (1996) Cell 87:1153-5).

Several angiogenic and/or vasculogenic agents with different properties and mechanisms of action are well known in the art. For example, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) and beta (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), and angiogenin are potent and well-characterized angiogenesis-promoting agents. In addition, both nitric oxide and prostaglandin (a prostacyclin agonist) have been shown to be mediators of various angiogenic growth factors, such as VEGF and bFGF. However, the therapeutic applicability of some of these compounds, especially as systemic agents, is limited by their potent pleiotropic effects on various cell types.

Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis have been the focus of intense interest since these processes can be exploited to therapeutic advantage. Stimulation of angiogenesis and/or vasculogenesis can aid in the healing of wounds, the vascularizing of skin grafts, and the enhancement of collateral circulation where there has been vascular occlusion or stenosis (e.g., to develop a “biobypass” around an obstruction due to coronary, carotid, or peripheral arterial occlusion disease). In addition, identification of agents that can stimulate recruitment of stem cells and/or progenitor cells could be useful in the treatment of other conditions associated with cellular injury and/or depletion of cells (e.g., acquired or genetic immune deficiencies). There is an intense interest in factors such agents that are well-tolerated by the subject, but that are of high potency in effecting stimulation of stem cell and/or progenitor cell recruitment.

Literature

Villablanca ((1998) “Nicotine stimulates DNA synthesis and proliferation in vascular endothelial cells in vitro,” J. Appl. Physiol. 84:2089-98) studied the effects of nicotine on endothelial DNA synthesis, DNA repair, proliferation, and cytoxicity using cultures of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells in vitro. The reference Carty et al. ((1996) “Nicotine and cotinine stimulate secretion of basic fibroblast growth factor and affect expression of matrix metalloproteinases in cultured human smooth muscle cells,” J Vasc Surg 24:927-35) demonstrate that nicotine stimulates vascular smooth muscle cells to produce fibroblast growth factor, and also upregulates the expression of several matrix metalloproteinases. The investigators propose that these data demonstrate mechanisms by which smoking may cause atherosclerosis and aneurysms.

The reference by Belluardo et al. ((1998) Acute intermittent nicotine treatment produces regional increases of basic fibroblast growth factor messenger RNA and protein in the tel—and diencephalon of the rat,” Neuroscience 83:723-40) reported that nicotine stimulates the expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 in rat brain, which the investigators propose may explain the neuroprotective effect of nicotine in the rat brain.

Moffett et al. ((1998) “Increased tyrosine phosphorylation and novel cis-actin element mediate activation of the fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) gene by nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. New mechanism for trans-synaptic regulation of cellular development and plasticity,” Mol Brain Res 55:293-305) report that nicotine stimulates the expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 in neural crest-derived adrenal pheochromatocytes utilizing a unique transcriptional pathway that requires tyrosine phosphorylation. The authors propose that these findings suggest that activation of nicotine receptors may be involved in neural development.

Cucina et al. ((1999) “Nicotine regulates basic fibroblastic growth factor and transforming growth factor β₁ production in endothelial cells,” Biochem Biophys Res Commun 257:302-12) report that nicotine increases the release of bFGF, decreases the release of TGFβ1 from endothelial cells, and increases endothelial mitogenesis. The authors conclude that these effects may have a key role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

Volm et al. (1999) “Angiogenesis and cigarette smoking in squamous cell lung carcinomas: an immunohistochemical study of 28 cases.” Anticancer Res 19(1A):333-6 reports that angiogenesis in lung tumors is linked to a patient's smoking habits.

Macklin et al. (1998) “Human vascular endothelial cells express functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors,” J. Pharmacol. Exper. Therap. 287:435-9 reports that endothelial cells express both functional nicotinic (neuronal type) and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,318,957; 5,866,561; and 5,869,037 describe use of various compounds (haptoglobin and estrogen) and methods (adenoviral-mediated gene therapy of adipocytes) to effect angiogenesis.

Heeschen et al. ((2001) “Nicotine stimulates angiogenesis and promotes tumor growth and atherosclerosis.” Nat Med July; 7(7):833-9) reports that nicotine induces angiogenesis, and increases capillary and collateral growth in vivo.

Jacobi et al. ((2001) “Nicotine stimulates wound healing in diabetic mice.” Am J Pathol July; 161(1):97-104) reports that nicotine accelerates wound healing in diabetic mice by promoting angiogenesis.

Heeschen et al. ((2003) “Nicotine promotes arteriogenesis.” J Am Coll Cardiol, February 5;41(3):489-96) reports that nicotine promotes angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in the setting of ischemia.

Heeschen et al. ((2002) “A novel angiogenic pathway mediated by non-neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.” J Clin Invest August; 110(4):527-36) reports that pharmacological inhibition of nAChR inhibited inflammatory angiogenesis and reduced ischemia-induced angiogenesis and tumor growth.

Zhu et al. ((2003) “Second Hand Smoke Stimulates Tumor Angiogenesis and Growth.” Cancer Cell 4(3):191-6) reports that tobacco smoke promotes tumor angiogenesis and growth.

For recent reviews in the field of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, see, e.g., Yancopoulos et al. (1998) Cell 93:661-4; Folkman et al. (1996) Cell 87;1153-5; and Hanahan et al. (1996) Cell 86:353-64.

For recent reviews in the field of hematopoiesis, see, e.g., Kondo et al. (2003) Ann. Rev. Immunol. 21:759-806; Prohaska et al. (2002) Semin. Immunol. 14:377-384; Kondo eta 1. (2001) Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 11:520-526; and Weissman et al. (2001) Ann. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 17:387-403.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features methods for recruiting/mobilizing and/or increasing proliferation of bone marrow-derived stem cells (e.g., hematopoietic stem cells) and progenitor cells (e.g. endothelial cell precursors), as well as methods for recruiting/mobilizing and/or increasing proliferation of the progeny of such cells, by administration of nicotine or other nicotine receptor agonist. The methods of the invention can be used in, for example, treatment of conditions amenable to treatment by recruitment of bone marrow-derived stem cells (e.g., neutropenia, leukopenia, etc.).

One object of the present invention to provide a method of recruiting endothelial progenitor cells to enhance angiogenesis.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of treating and preventing diseases and ailments involving tissue damage (e.g., to facilitate cellular repair), such as in myocardial and cerebral infarctions, heart failure, mesenteric or limb ischemia, wounds, and vascular occlusion or stenosis.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of accelerating wound healing, vascularization and incorporation of skin grafts, musculocutaneous flaps or other surgically transplanted tissues; or to enhance the healing of a surgically created anastomosis.

Another object of the invention is provide a method of treating conditions or diseases (e.g., blood dyscrasias, therapeutic radiation treatments, and the like) associated with depletion of cells that develop from bone marrow-derived stem cells (e.g., immune cells, e.g., neutrophils, eosinophils, T cells, B cells, macrophages, natural killer cells, and the like).

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading the details of the methods of the invention and compositions used therein as more fully described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides the chemical structures for the nicotine receptor agonists nicotine, epibatidine, and ABT-154, and for the nicotine receptor antagonists hexamethonium and mecamylamine.

FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the effect of oral nicotine upon fibrovascular growth in an animal model.

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the effect of locally administered nicotine upon fibrovascular growth in an animal model using the disc angiogenesis system.

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating comparing the relative angiogenic potencies of the angiogenic factors Del-1 and bFGF with locally or systemically administered nicotine.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the relative capillary densities in non-ischemic (control; “non-ischemic”) ischemic limbs in the hind limb ischemia model (“ischemic”).

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating the effect of intramuscularly administered nicotine upon capillary density in an animal model of ischemia.

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating the effect of intramuscularly administered nicotine upon capillary density in an untreated, non-ischemic limb of an animal of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustrating an experimental model of mouse parabiosis used in assays for tracking migration of circulating cells such as progenitor cells.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the capillary density (capillaries/myocyte) and the percentage of new vessels incorporating endothelial progenitor cells for saline control animals and nicotine treated animals.

FIG. 10 is a graph depicting the effect of nicotine (oral administration for 6 weeks) on peripheral white blood cell count (WBC).

FIG. 11 is a graph depicting the effect of nicotine on total cellular population of bone marrow (BM) and spleen after 6 weeks of administration.

FIG. 12 is a graph depicting the effect of nicotine on the pool of hematopoietic stem cells (kit/sca⁺) in the bone marrow.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are graphs depicting the effect of a 6-week exposure on long term, self-renewing hematopoietic stem cells (LTHSC; FIG. 13A) and short term, differentiating hematopoietic stem cells (STHSC; FIG. 13B) in the bone marrow of C57B16 mice.

DEFINITIONS

The term “nicotine receptor agonist” is meant to encompass nicotine (which is understood to include nicotine derivatives and like compounds) and other compounds that substantially specifically bind a nicotine receptor and provide a pharmacological effect, e.g., recruitment of stem cells to a treatment site, as in induction of angiogenesis. “Nicotine receptor agonists” encompass naturally-occurring compounds (including, but not limited to, small molecules, polypeptides, peptides, etc., particularly naturally-occurring plant alkaloids, and the like), endogenous ligands (e.g., purified from a natural source, recombinantly produced, or synthetic, and further including derivatives and variants of such endogenous ligands), and synthetically produced compounds (e.g., small molecules, peptides, etc.).

The term “nicotine” is intended to mean the naturally occurring alkaloid known as nicotine, having the chemical name S-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)pyridine, which may be isolated and purified from nature or synthetically produced in any manner. This term is also intended to encompass the commonly occurring salts containing pharmacologically acceptable anions, such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, nitrate, sulfate or bisulfate, phosphate or acid phosphate, acetate, lactate, citrate or acid citrate, tartrate or bitartrate, succinate, maleate, fumarate, gluconate, saccharate, benzoate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluene sulfonate, camphorate and pamoate salts. Nicotine is a colorless to pale yellow, strongly alkaline, oily, volatile, hygroscopic liquid having a molecular weight of 162.23 and the formula shown in FIG. 1.

Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the term “nicotine” further includes any pharmacologically acceptable derivative or metabolite of nicotine which exhibits pharmacotherapeutic properties similar to nicotine. Such derivatives, metabolites, and derivatives of metabolites are known in the art, and include, but are not necessarily limited to, cotinine, norcotinine, nomicotine, nicotine N-oxide, cotinine N-oxide, 3-hydroxycotinine and 5-hydroxycotinine or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. A number of useful derivatives of nicotine are disclosed within the Physician's Desk Reference (most recent edition) as well as Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.

The term “nicotine receptor” as in “nicotine receptor agonist” is meant to encompass the classic pentameric protein of the nicotine receptor (formed by subunits which are symmetrically arranged around a central ion channel) as well as any protein comprising a nicotine binding site that stimulates recruitment of stem cells or progenitor cells (e.g., as in angiogenesis) upon binding to nicotine or other nicotine receptor agonist (e.g., the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor). Use of the term “nicotine receptor” in the phrase “nicotine receptor agonist” is not meant to limit the present invention to a theorized mechanism through which nicotine or other nicotine receptor agonists stimulate stem/progenitor cell recruitment (e.g., by binding a nicotine receptor), but rather is a means of describing the types of compounds contemplated by the invention that can be used to facilitate stimulation of stem/progenitor cell recruitment.

The terms “long-term” and “short-term,” as used herein to refer to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), are art-recognized terms. In general, long-term HSCs (LTHSCs) are self-renewing stem cells. In general, short-term HSCs (STHSCs) are programmed to differentiate into hematopoietic progenitor cells. Human LTHSCs can be distinguished from STHSCs using methods that are known in the art. For example, human LTHSCs are generally CD38⁻, while human STHSCs are generally CD38⁺. In mouse, LTHSCs are generally Flk-2⁻, while STHSCs are generally Flk-2⁺. See, e.g., Christiansen and Weissman ((2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:14541-14546; Chen et al. ((2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:15468-15473; Hogan et L. ((2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:413-418; deWynter et al. ((1998) Stem Cells 16:387-396;

The terms “treatment”, “treating” and the like are used herein to generally mean obtaining a desired pharmacologic and/or physiologic effect, e.g., stimulation of angiogenesis and/or vasculogenesis. The effect may be prophylactic in terms of completely or partially preventing a disease or symptom thereof and/or may be therapeutic in terms of a partial or complete cure for a disease and/or adverse effect attributable to the disease. “Treatment” as used herein covers any treatment of a disease in a mammal, particularly a human, and includes: (a) preventing a disease or condition (e.g., preventing the loss of a skin graft or a re-attached limb due to inadequate vascularization) from occurring in a subject who may be predisposed to the disease but has not yet been diagnosed as having it; (b) inhibiting the disease, e.g., arresting its development; or (c) relieving the disease (e.g., enhancing the development of a “bio-bypass” around an obstructed vessel to improve blood flow to an organ). For example, in the context of the present invention, stimulation of angiogenesis and/or vasculogenesis is employed for subject having a disease or condition amenable to treatment by increasing vascularity and increasing blood flow.

By “therapeutically effective amount of a nicotine receptor agonist” is meant an amount of a nicotine receptor agonist effective to facilitate a desired therapeutic effect, e.g., a desired level of angiogenic and/or vasculogenic stimulation. The precise desired therapeutic effect will vary according to the condition to be treated.

By “isolated” is meant that the compound is separated from all or some of the components that accompany it in nature.

By “substantially pure nicotine receptor agonist” is meant that the nicotine receptor agonist has been separated from components that accompany it in nature. Typically, a nicotine receptor agonist is substantially pure when it is at least 50% to 60%, by weight, free from naturally-occurring organic molecules with which it is naturally associated. Generally, the preparation is at least 75%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 99%, by weight, nicotine receptor agonist. A substantially pure nicotine receptor agonist can be obtained, for example, by extraction from a natural source (e.g., tobacco), by chemically synthesizing the compound, or by a combination of purification and chemical modification. A substantially pure nicotine receptor agonist can also be obtained by, for example, enriching a sample having nicotine receptor agonist activity for a factor or factors that provide such activity, e.g., by obtaining a fraction having increased nicotine receptor agonist activity. Purity can be measured by any appropriate method, e.g., chromatography, mass spectroscopy, HPLC analysis, etc.

For example, a nicotine receptor agonist is substantially free of naturally associated components when it is separated from those contaminants which accompany it in its natural state. Thus, a nicotine receptor agonist which is chemically synthesized or produced in a cellular system different from the cell from which it naturally originates will be substantially free from its naturally associated components

The term “stem cell” is used herein to refer to a mammalian cell that has the ability both to self-renew, and to generate differentiated progeny (see Morrison et al. (1997) Cell 88:287-298). Generally, stem cells also have one or more of the following properties: an ability to undergo asynchronous, or symmetric replication, that is where the two daughter cells after division can have different phenotypes; extensive self-renewal capacity; capacity for existence in a mitotically quiescent form; and clonal regeneration of all the tissue in which they exist, for example the ability of hematopoietic stem cells to reconstitute all hematopoietic lineages. “Progenitor cells” differ from stem cells in that they typically do not have the extensive self-renewal capacity, and often can only regenerate a subset of the lineages in the tissue from which they derive, for example only lymphoid, or erythroid lineages in a hematopoietic setting. The term “stem/progenitor cell” used throughout is used for simplicity, is not meant to be limiting, and is meant to encompass stem cells, progenitor cells, and both stem and progenitor cells.

Stem cells may be characterized by both the presence of markers associated with specific epitopes identified by antibodies and the absence of certain markers as identified by the lack of binding of specific antibodies. Stem cells may also be identified by functional assays both in vitro and in vivo, particularly assays relating to the ability of stem cells to give rise to multiple differentiated progeny. “Stem cells” is meant to include, but is not necessarily limited to, hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells derived therefrom (U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,620); neural crest stem cells (see Morrison et al. (1999) Cell 96:737-749); embryonic stem cells; mesenchymal stem; mesodermal stem cells; etc.

Other hematopoietic “progenitor” cells of interest include cells dedicated to lymphoid lineages, e.g. immature T cell and B cell populations. The methods of the present invention are useful in expanding selected populations of these cells.

“Mesenchymal progenitor cells” is meant to include, but is not necessarily limited to, endothelial progenitor cells and other cells dedicated to development into cells of mesenchymal lineages, e.g., connective tissue, cartilage, chondrocytes, bone (osteoblasts), fat cells (adipocytes), and the outer layers of blood vessels.

Before the present invention is further described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular embodiments described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges, and are also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “and”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a nicotine receptor agonist” includes a plurality of such agonists and reference to “the nicotine receptor” includes reference to one or more nicotine receptors and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Overview of the Invention

The present invention is based on the surprising discovery that nicotine induces recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells to blood vessels and provides for induction of angiogenesis. The inventors have also found that peripheral white blood cell count is increased by nicotine, an effect that is associated with an increase in the numbers of short-term and long-term hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow.

The inventors' initial inquiries were based on the clinical observation that smokers often have inadequate collateral development after coronary or peripheral arterial obstruction, i.e., the inventors at first suspected that nicotine might play a role in inhibition of angiogenesis. Accordingly, the inventors began by testing the local effects of nicotine in the disc angiogenesis system (DAS). Unexpectedly, the inventors discovered that nicotine was as or more potent as an angiogenic agent than any growth factor tested in this system, including Dell (Penta et al. (1999) J Biol Chem 274(16):11101-9) and bFGF. Additional studies revealed that the potent angiogenic effects of nicotine were mediated in part by products of the cyclooxygenase cascade, and in part by the NO synthase pathway. Studies using the disc angiogenesis system suggested that nicotine may be useful for therapeutic angiogenesis. However, because angiogenesis is such a complex process, to demonstrate proof of principle that an agent has utility for therapeutic angiogenesis, the agent was tested in an animal model of disease that requires angiogenesis for its treatment. Accordingly, studies were performed in an animal model of arterial occlusion (the murine hind limb ischemia model). Using this model of arterial occlusion, the inventors obtained compelling evidence that nicotine induces therapeutic angiogenesis.

In addition, the inventors discovered that induction of angiogenesis by nicotine involves mobilization and recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells to the site of injury. This discovery suggests that nicotine can induce mobilization and recruitment of stem cells and progenitor cells, and thus can be used to treat conditions in which a cell population has been depleted due to, for example, infection, physical damage, autoimmunity, etc.

Thus, the inventors have discovered that nicotine, a component of tobacco smoke, provides the basis of a new therapeutic approach to enhance angiogenesis in the treatment of coronary, peripheral, or other occlusive arterial diseases; for the enhancement of wound healing and the improved vascularization of surgically transplanted tissues or organs (e.g., skin grafts or reattached limbs); and for the recruitment and mobilization of stem cells and progenitor cells to provide for repopulation of a depleted or damaged mature cell population.

In view of its similar or relatively enhanced potency relative to other, conventional angiogenic agents, nicotine has significant advantage over current candidates as the basis of therapeutic angiogenesis. Moreover, the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of nicotine have already been well-characterized in the context of smoking (e.g., in an effort to facilitate smoking cessation) and methods for slow release and local delivery have already been intensively investigated. Processes for the manufacture of nicotine and nicotine agonists are also well characterized. Furthermore, these small molecules are more easily synthesized and stored than complex angiogenic peptides.

Accordingly, the invention encompasses methods and compositions for mobilization and recruitment of stem cells and/or progenitor cells, by administration of a nicotine receptor agonist.

Nicotine and Other Nicotine Receptor Agonists

The methods of the invention are accomplished by administration of a nicotine receptor agonist, particularly nicotine, nicotine metabolite, or nicotine derivative. Methods for production of nicotine derivatives and analogues are well known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,590,278; 4,321,387; 4,452,984; 4,442,292; and 4,332,945.

Additional nicotine receptor agonists of interest include, but are not necessarily limited to, naturally occurring plant alkaloids (e.g., lobeline, lobeline derivatives, and the like), which plant-derived compounds can be provided in a herbal preparation (e.g., in the form of dried tobacco leaves, in a poultice, in a botanical preparation, etc.), in isolated form (e.g., separated or partially separated from the materials that naturally accompany it), or in a substantially purified form. Other nicotine receptor agonists include choline esterase inhibitors (e.g., that increase local concentration of acetylcholine), derivatives of epibatidine that specifically bind the neuronal type of nicotinic receptors (with reduced binding to the muscarinic receptor) and having reduced deleterious side-effects (e.g., Epidoxidine, ABT-154, ABT-418, ABT-594; Abbott Laboratories (Damaj et al. (1998) J. Pharmacol Exp. Ther. 284:1058-65, describing several analogs of epibatidine of equal potency but with high specificity to the neuronal type of nicotinic receptors). Further nicotine receptor agonists of interest include, but are not necessarily limited to, N-methylcarbamyl and N-methylthi-O-carbamyl esters of choline (e.g., trimethylaminoethanol) (Abood et al. (1988) Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 30:403-8); acetylcholine (an endogenous ligand for the nicotine receptor); and the like.

Nicotine receptor agonists can also be readily identified using methods well known in the art. For example, the ability of a candidate nicotine receptor agonist can be screened for binding to a nicotine receptor in vitro, and the ability of the candidate agent to recruit stem cells and/or progenitor cells can be assessed in vivo (e.g., using the disc angiogenesis system (DAS), in the hind limb ischemia model, etc.).

Pharmaceutical Compositions

Upon reading the present specification, the ordinarily skilled artisan will appreciate that the pharmaceutical compositions comprising a nicotine receptor agonist described herein can be provided in a wide variety of formulations. More particularly, the nicotine receptor agonist can be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions by combination with appropriate, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents, and may be formulated into preparations in solid, semi-solid (e.g., gel), liquid or gaseous forms, such as tablets, capsules, powders, granules, ointments, solutions, suppositories, injections, inhalants and aerosols. Where the nicotine receptor agonist is a naturally-occurring compound, the pharmaceutical composition can also be provided as an herbal preparation (e.g., in the form of tobacco leaves, as a poultice of plant matter, in a botanical preparation, etc.).

The nicotine receptor agonist formulation used will vary according to the condition or disease to be treated, the route of administration, the amount of nicotine receptor agonist to be administered, and other variables that will be readily appreciated by the ordinarily skilled artisan. In general, and as discussed in more detail below, administration of nicotine receptor agonists can be either systemic or local, and can be achieved in various ways, including, but not necessarily limited to, administration by a route that is enteral (e.g., oral), parenteral, intravenous, intravascular, intra-arterial, inter-pericardial, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, transdermal, transcutaneous, subdermal, intradermal, intrapulmonary, etc.

In pharmaceutical dosage forms, the nicotine receptor agonist may be administered in the form of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or they may also be used alone or in appropriate association, as well as in combination, with other pharmaceutically active compounds. The following methods and excipients are merely exemplary and are in no way limiting.

The nicotine receptor agonist can be formulated into preparations for injection by dissolving, suspending or emulsifying them in an aqueous or nonaqueous solvent, such as vegetable or other similar oils, synthetic aliphatic acid glycerides, esters of higher aliphatic acids or propylene glycol; and if desired, with conventional additives such as solubilizers, isotonic agents, suspending agents, emulsifying agents, stabilizers and preservatives.

Formulations suitable for topical, transcutaneous, and transdermal administration, e.g., to administer the nicotine receptor agonist directly to a wound, may be similarly prepared through use of appropriate suspending agents, solubilizers, thickening agents, stabilizers, and preservatives. Topical formulations may be also utilized with a means to provide continuous administration of nicotine or other nicotine receptor agonist by, for example, incorporation into slow-release pellets or controlled-release patches.

The nicotine receptor agonist can also be formulated in a biocompatible gel, which gel can be applied topically (e.g., to facilitate wound healing) or implanted (e.g., to provide for sustained release of nicotine receptor agonist at an internal treatment site). Suitable gels and methods for formulating a desired compound for delivery using the gel are well known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,801,033; 5,827,937; 5,700,848; and MATRIGEL™).

For oral preparations, the nicotine receptor agonist can be used alone or in combination with appropriate additives to make tablets, powders, granules or capsules, for example, with conventional additives, such as lactose, mannitol, corn starch or potato starch; with binders, such as crystalline cellulose, cellulose derivatives, acacia, corn starch or gelatins; with disintegrators, such as corn starch, potato starch or sodium carboxymethylcellulose; with lubricants, such as talc or magnesium stearate; and if desired, with diluents, buffering agents, moistening agents, preservatives and flavoring agents.

The nicotine receptor agonist can be utilized in aerosol formulation to be administered via inhalation. The compounds of the present invention can be formulated into pressurized acceptable propellants such as dichlorodifluoromethane, propane, nitrogen and the like.

Furthermore, the nicotine receptor agonist can be made into suppositories by mixing with a variety of bases such as emulsifying bases or water-soluble bases. The compounds of the present invention can be administered rectally via a suppository. The suppository can include vehicles such as cocoa butter, carbowaxes and polyethylene glycols, which melt at body temperature, yet are solidified at room temperature.

Unit dosage forms for oral or rectal administration such as syrups, elixirs, and suspensions may be provided wherein each dosage unit, for example, teaspoonful, tablespoonful, tablet or suppository, contains a predetermined amount of the composition containing one or more inhibitors. Similarly, unit dosage forms for injection or intravenous administration may comprise the inhibitor(s) in a composition as a solution in sterile water, normal saline or another pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The term “unit dosage form,” as used herein, refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages for human and/or animal subjects, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of nicotine receptor agonist calculated in an amount sufficient to produce the desired effect in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier or vehicle. The specifications for the unit dosage forms of the present invention depend on the particular compound employed and the effect to be achieved, and the pharmacodynamics associated with each compound in the host.

The pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, such as vehicles, adjuvants, carriers or diluents, are readily available to the public. Moreover, pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, such as pH adjusting and buffering agents, tonicity adjusting agents, stabilizers, wetting agents and the like, are readily available to the public.

In addition to one or more nicotine receptor agonists, the pharmaceutical formulations according to the invention can comprise or be administered in parallel with additional active agents. For example, where the pharmaceutical formulation is to be administered to promote angiogenesis and/or vasculogenesis, the formulation can comprise additional agents to further enhance angiogenesis by enhancing nitric oxide (NO) levels (e.g., by enhancing activity of NO synthase, by enhancing release of NO, etc.) or prostacyclin levels (e.g., by enhancing activity prostacyclin synthase, by enhancing release of prostacyclin, etc.) Exemplary NO level-enhancing agents include, but are not necessarily limited to, L-arginine, L-lysine, and peptides enriched with these amino acids which can serve as substrates for NO; agents that preserve NO activity such as antioxidants (e.g., tocopherol, ascorbic acid, ubiquinone) or antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase); and agents which can enhance NO synthase activity (e.g., tetrahydrobiopterin, or precursors for tetrahydrobiopterin (e.g., sepiapterin)); and the like. Exemplary prostacyclin level-enhancing agents include, but are not limited to precursors for prostacyclin such as eicosopentanoic acid and docosohexanoic acid; and prostanoids such as prostaglandin E1 and its analogues; and the like. Alternatively or in addition, the pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention can comprise additional agents for stimulation of stem cell and/or endothelial cells recruitment that act through pathways other than the nicotine receptor (e.g., in angiogenesis or vasculogenesis, VEGF, FGF (e.g., aFGF, bFGF), Del-1, etc.).

Particularly where the nicotine receptor agonist is to be delivered for local application, e.g., by an intramuscular route, it may be desirable to provide the nicotine receptor agonist in a gel or matrix. The gel or matrix can, for example, provide at least the initial substrate upon which, for example, new tissue can form. For example, the gel or matrix can be extruded into an ischemic region to form a path for new blood vessel formation so as to bypass an obstruction in the area.

Administration of Nicotine Receptor Agonists for Mobilization/Recruitment of Stem and Progenitor Cells in Vivo

In order to accomplish mobilization or recruitment of stem cells and/or progenitor cells, nicotine or other nicotine receptor agonists can be administered in any suitable manner, preferably with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that there are available a variety of suitable methods of administering nicotine or other nicotine receptor agonist in the context of the present invention, and, although more than one route can be used to administer a particular compound, a particular route can provide a more immediate, more effective, and/or associated with fewer side effects than another route. In general, a nicotine receptor agonist can be administered according to the method of the invention by, for example, an enteral (e.g., an oral), a parenteral, intravenous, intra-arterial, inter-pericardial, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, transdermal, transcutaneous, subdermal, intradermal, or intrapulmonary route.

The instant methods provide for stimulating proliferation of stem cells and/or progenitor cells, or the progeny of such cells. The instant methods provide for stimulating mobilization of stem cells and/or progenitor cells, or the progeny of such cells, from the bone marrow to a treatment site in a mammal. Treatment sites include, but are not limited to, the bloodstream, the peripheral circulation, lymph nodes, a wound or ulcer, and the like. In some embodiments, the methods provide for incorporation of circulating stem cells or progeny thereof into the treatment site.

In order to avoid the side-effects associated with systemic nicotine, it may be preferable to administer nicotine locally (either alone or with additional active agents, e.g., to enhance the activity of the NO synthase or prostacyclin synthase pathways in stimulation of angiogenesis; or to facilitate development of stem or progenitor cells into the desired mature cells (e.g., endothelial cells). Local administration can be accomplished by, for example, direct injection (e.g., intramuscular injection) at the desired treatment site, by introduction of the nicotine receptor agonist formulation intravenously at a site near a desired treatment site (e.g., into a vessel or capillary that feeds a treatment site), by intra-arterial or intra-pericardial introduction, by introduction (e.g., by injection or other method of implantation) of a nicotine receptor agonist formulation in a biocompatible gel or capsule within or adjacent a treatment site, by injection directly into muscle or other tissue in which increased blood flow and/or increased vascularity is desired and/or to which recruitment of stem cells or progenitor cells is desired, by rectal introduction of the formulation (e.g., in the form of a suppository to, for example, facilitate vascularization of a surgically created anastomosis after resection of a piece of the bowel), etc.

In one particular application of interest, the nicotine receptor agonist formulation is employed in a “biobypass” method, wherein instead of performing a more invasive procedure, such as a coronary bypass operation, a nicotine receptor agonist formulation is administered to induce growth of new blood vessels around the blocked region. In this embodiment, the nicotine receptor agonist formulation can be administered in the area of and/or proximate to the ischemic tissue to stimulate angiogenesis.

In some embodiments it may be desirable to deliver the nicotine receptor agonist directly to the wall of a vessel. One exemplary method of vessel wall administration involves the use of a drug delivery catheter, particularly a drug delivery catheter comprising an inflatable balloon that can facilitate delivery to a vessel wall. Thus, in one embodiment the method of the invention comprises delivery of a nicotine receptor agonist to a vessel wall by inflating a balloon catheter, wherein the balloon comprises a nicotine receptor agonist formulation covering a substantial portion of the balloon. The nicotine receptor agonist formulation is held in place against the vessel wall, promoting adsorption through the vessel wall. In one example, the catheter is a perfusion balloon catheter, which allows perfusion of blood through the catheter while holding the nicotine receptor agonist against the vessel walls for longer adsorption times. Examples of catheters suitable for nicotine receptor agonist application include drug delivery catheters disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,642; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,554,119; 5,591,129; and the like.

In another embodiment of interest, the nicotine receptor agonist formulation is delivered in the form of a biocompatible gel, which can be implanted (e.g., by injection into or adjacent a treatment site, by extrusion into or adjacent a tissue to be treated, etc.). Gel formulations comprising a nicotine receptor agonist can be designed to facilitate local release of the nicotine receptor agonist and other active agents for a sustained period (e.g., over a period of hours, days, weeks, etc.). The gel can be injected into or near a treatment site, e.g., using a needle or other delivery device. In one embodiment, the gel is placed into or on an instrument which is inserted into the tissue and then slowly withdrawn to leave a track of gel, resulting in stimulation of stem cell and/or progenitor cell recruitment along the path made by the instrument. This latter method of delivery may be particularly desirable for, for example, directing course of a biobypass.

In other embodiments it may be desirable to deliver the nicotine receptor agonist formulation topically, e.g., for localized delivery, e.g., to facilitate wound healing. Topical application can be accomplished by use of a biocompatible gel, which may be provided in the form of a patch, or by use of a cream, foam, and the like. Several gels, patches, creams, foams, and the like appropriate for application to wounds can be modified for delivery of nicotine receptor agonist formulations according to the invention (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,853,749; 5,844,013; 5,804,213; 5,770,229; and the like). In general, topical administration is accomplished using a carrier such as a hydrophilic colloid or other material that provides a moist environment. Alternatively, for the purpose of wound healing the nicotine agonist could be supplied, with or without other agents in a gel or cream the could be applied to the wound. An example of such an application would be as a sodium carboxymethylcellulose-based topical gel with a low bioburden containing the nicotine agonist and other active ingredients together with preservatives and stabilizers.

In other embodiments, the nicotine receptor agonist formulation is delivered locally or systemically, using a transdermal patch. Several transdermal patches are well known in the art for systemic delivery of nicotine to facilitate smoking cessation, and such patches may be modified to provide for delivery of an amount of nicotine receptor agonist effective to stimulate stem cell and/or progenitor cell recruitment according to the invention (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,920,989; and 4,943,435, NICOTROL™ patch, and the like).

In other methods of delivery, the nicotine receptor agonist can be administered using iontophoretic techniques. Methods and compositions for use in iontophoresis are well known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,415,629; 5,899,876; 5,807,306; and the like).

The desirable extent of stem/progenitor cell mobilization/recruitment will depend on the particular condition or disease being treated, as well as the stability of the patient and possible side-effects. In proper doses and with suitable administration, the present invention provides for a wide range of development of blood vessels (e.g., from little development to essentially full development), as well as for wide ranges of stem cell or progenitor cell mobilization and/or recruitment (e.g., mobilization of a sufficient number of cells to provide for complete repopulation of a cell type (e.g., to provide for replenishment of immune cells in a host immunocompromised following infection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and the like; or to provide for localized recruitment of stem cells or progenitor cells to a site of local injury (e.g., as in wound healing, local ischemia, etc.)).

The activity of nicotine receptor agonists in stem/progenitor cell mobilization/recruitment can be controlled by administration of compounds that interfere with nicotine receptor agonist-mediated recruitment. In this sense, the invention also provides for a means of controlling or inhibiting activity of nicotine receptor agonists by interfering with its role in these processes. This may be accomplished, for example, administration of agents that inhibit the ability of the nicotine receptor agonist to mediate its effects through the nicotine receptor (e.g., by inhibiting binding to the nicotine receptor). Exemplary nicotinic receptor antagonists include hexamethonium and mecamylamine (formulas provided in FIG. 1). Alternatively, nicotine receptor agonist-mediated activity can be controlled or inhibited by administration of inhibitors of processes downstream of nicotine receptor signaling. For example, inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and/or prostacyclin antagonists can be administered to inhibit activity of a nicotine receptor agonist in stimulating angiogenesis. The inhibitor may be administered in the same manner and dosages to mammals, such as humans, as described with respect to the nicotine receptor agonist.

Where the subject has had exposure, particularly chronic exposure, to a nicotine receptor agonist (e.g., as in a subject who is a smoker and who has had prior, particularly chronic, systemic exposure to nicotine), the nicotine receptor or other nicotine receptor agonist-binding receptor that mediates stimulation of stem/progenitor cell mobilization/recruitment may be present at lower levels than in subjects who have not had previous exposure or chronic exposure to a nicotine receptor agonist. In such subjects, it thus may be desirable to administer an initial course of a nicotine receptor antagonist to stimulate an increase in nicotine binding-receptors.

Dose

The dose of nicotine or other nicotine receptor agonist administered to a subject, particularly a human, in the context of the present invention should be sufficient to effect a desired therapeutic response (e.g., mobilization/recruitment of stem/progenitor cells in a therapeutically effective number, therapeutic angiogenic response, etc.) in the subject over a reasonable time frame. The dose will be determined by the potency of the particular nicotine receptor agonist employed and the condition of the subject, as well as the body weight of the subject to be treated. For example, the level or affinity or both of the nicotine receptor agonist for the nicotine receptor may play a role in regulating the compound's activity. The size of the dose also will be determined by the existence, nature, and extent of any adverse side-effects that might accompany the administration of a particular compound.

In determining the effective amount of nicotine or nicotine receptor agonist in the stimulation of stem/progenitor cell recruitment, the route of administration, the kinetics of the release system (e.g., pill, gel or other matrix), and the potency of the nicotine agonist is considered so as to achieve the desired effect with minimal adverse side effects. The nicotine receptor agonist will typically be administered to the subject being treated for a time period ranging from a day to a few weeks, consistent with the clinical condition of the treated subject.

The following dosages assume that nicotine is being administered, or a nicotine receptor agonist with similar potency and efficacy as nicotine. As will be readily apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan, the dosage is adjusted for nicotine receptor agonists according to their potency and/or efficacy relative to nicotine. If given orally or as an inhalant, the dose may be in the range of about 0.01 mg to 10 mg, given 1 to 20 times daily, and can be up to a total daily dose of about 0.1 mg to 100 mg. If applied topically, for the purpose of a systemic effect, the patch or cream would be designed to provide for systemic delivery of a dose in the range of about 0.01 mg to 10 mg. If the purpose of the topical formulation (e.g., cream) is to provide a local effect, the dose would likely be in the range of about 0.001 mg to 1 mg. If injected for the purpose of a systemic effect, the matrix in which the nicotine agonist is administered is designed to provide for a systemic delivery of a dose in the range of about 0.001 mg to 1 mg. If injected for the purpose of a local effect, the matrix is designed to release locally an amount of nicotine agonist in the range of about 0.003 mg to 1 mg.

Regardless of the route of administration, the dose of nicotine receptor agonist can be administered over any appropriate time period, e.g., over the course of 1 to 24 hours, over one to several days, etc. Furthermore, multiple doses can be administered over a selected time period. A suitable dose can be administered in suitable subdoses per day, particularly in a prophylactic regimen. The precise treatment level will be dependent upon the response of the subject being treated. In the treatment of some individuals with nicotine receptor agonists, it may be desirable to utilize a “megadosing” regimen. In such a treatment, a large dose of the nicotine receptor agonist is administered to an individual, time is allowed for the compound to act, and then a suitable reagent, e.g., a nicotine receptor antagonist, is administered to the individual to render the active compound ineffective or to reduce its systemic side-effects.

Conditions Amenable to Treatment by Nicotine Receptor Agonist-Mediated Angiogenesis

The methods and nicotine receptor agonist-comprising compositions of the invention can be used to treat a variety of conditions that would benefit from recruitment of stem/progenitor cells.

In one embodiment, nicotine receptor agonists are used to stimulate recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells to provide for stimulation of angiogenesis, stimulation of vasculogenesis, increased blood flow, and/or increased vascularity. Use of nicotine receptor agonists in this embodiment are referred to generally herein as “therapeutic angiogenesis.”

Examples of conditions and diseases amenable to therapeutic angiogenesis according to the method of the invention include any condition associated with an obstruction of a blood vessel, e.g., obstruction of an artery, vein, or of a capillary system. Specific examples of such conditions or disease include, but are not necessarily limited to, coronary occlusive disease, carotid occlusive disease, arterial occlusive disease, peripheral arterial disease, atherosclerosis, myointimal hyperplasia (e.g., due to vascular surgery or balloon angioplasty or vascular stenting), thromboangiitis obliterans, thrombotic disorders, vasculitis, and the like. Examples of conditions or diseases that can be prevented using the methods of the invention include, but are not necessarily limited to, heart attack (myocardial infarction) or other vascular death, stroke, death or loss of limbs associated with decreased blood flow, and the like.

Other forms of therapeutic angiogenesis include, but are not necessarily limited to, the use of nicotine receptor agonists to accelerate healing of wounds or ulcers; to improve the vascularization of skin grafts or reattached limbs so as to preserve their function and viability; to improve the healing of surgical anastomoses (e.g., as in re-connecting portions of the bowel after gastrointestinal surgery); and to improve the growth of skin or hair.

Conditions Amenable to Treatment by Nicotine Receptor Agonist-Mediated Induction of Stem Cell and/or Progenitor Cell Mobilization and/or Recruitment

In addition to stimulation of endothelial progenitor cells in angiogenesis and/or vasculogenesis, nicotine or other nicotine receptor agonists can also be used to induce mobilization and/or recruitment and/or proliferation (e.g., renewal) of stem cells and/or progenitor cells to provide for replacement of a depleted mature cell or to supplement a population of mature cells. By “mobilization” is meant the induction of movement of stem and/or progenitor cells from their site of origin (e.g., the bone marrow) and into the systemic circulation. “Recruitment” refers to the movement of stem cells and/or progenitor cells from the systemic circulation and to a local site, e.g., to a wound or other site of physical damage, site of infection, an organ, etc. In addition to or as part of the mobilization/recruitment processes, nicotine receptor agonists can also induce proliferation and maturation of stem cells and progenitor cells. Thus, a method of mobilization or recruitment of stem and/or progenitor cells may involve increasing the numbers of such cells.

Conditions amenable to treatment by mobilization of stem cells and/or progenitor cells include, but are not necessarily limited to, conditions amenable to treatment by increasing the number of immune cells (e.g., neutrophils, eosinophils, T cells, B cells, macrophages, natural killer cells), cells of mesenchymal origin (e.g., cells of connective tissue, cells of cartilage, chondrocytes, bone (osteoblasts), fat cells (adipocytes), and cells of blood vessels, e.g., endothelial cells). Thus, in some embodiments, the invention provides for treating disorders associated with a reduction in immune cells. Disorders associated with a reduction in immune cells include, but are not limited to, neutropenia, leukopenia, an acquired immunodeficiency, and the like. Acquired immunodeficiency can result from any of a variety of conditions or treatments, including, but not limited to, radiation therapy, chemotherapy (e.g., cancer chemotherapy), a viral infection, and the like.

In some embodiments, the invention provides methods for stimulating proliferation of bone marrow cells (including, e.g., hematopoietic stem cells, immune progenitor cells, and the progeny of such cells) to provide for an increased number of such cells in a mammalian subject prior to obtaining cells from the subject for use in bone marrow transplantation. For example, an effective amount of a nicotine receptor agonist is administered to an individual who is a prospective bone marrow donor at a suitable time period before bone marrow is taken from the donor for transplantation into a recipient. For example, an effective amount of a nicotine receptor agonist is administered to a prospective donor at a time period of from about 30 minutes to about 2 weeks, e.g., from about 30 minutes to about 1 hour, from about 1 hour to about 2 hours, from about 2 hours to about 4 hours, from about 4 hours to about 8 hours, from about 8 hours to about 12 hours, from about 12 hours to about 16 hours, from about 16 hours to about 24 hours, from about 24 hours to about 2 days, from about 2 days to about 4 days, from about 4 days to about 7 days, or from about 1 week to about 2 weeks, prior to obtaining bone marrow from the donor individual.

In some embodiments, the invention provides for stimulation of proliferation of stem and/or progenitor cells, where the stem and/or progenitor cells are of hematopoietic lineage. For example, in some embodiments, administration of a nicotine receptor agonist induces an at least about 5%, at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 20%, at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at least about 35%, at least about 40%, at least about 45%, or at least about 50%, or greater, increase in peripheral white blood cell count. In other embodiments, administration of a nicotine receptor agonist induces an at least about 5%, at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 20%, at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at least about 35%, at least about 40%, at least about 45%, or at least about 50%, or greater, increase in total cell count in the bone marrow. In other embodiments, administration of a nicotine receptor agonist induces an at least about 5%, at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 20%, at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at least about 35%, at least about 40%, at least about 45%, or at least about 50%, or greater, increase in short-term hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. In other embodiments, administration of a nicotine receptor agonist induces an at least about 5%, at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 20%, at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at least about 35%, at least about 40%, at least about 45%, or at least about 50%, or greater, increase in long-term hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.

In one embodiment, the mobilized/recruited cells are mesenchymal stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells are a population of progenitor cells in the bone marrow that are capable of differentiating into bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, and other connective tissues (Bruder et al. (1998) Clin Orthop (355 Suppl):S247-56). Human mesenchymal stem cells are positive for the markers SH2, SH3 and SH4.

In another embodiment, the mobilized/recruited cells are hematopoietic stem cells. Hematopoietic cells encompass HSCs, erythrocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, platelets, mast cells, eosinophils and basophils, B and T lymphocytes and NK cells as well as the respective lineage progenitor cells. As used herein, a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) refers to a primitive or pluripotential hematopoietic stem cell that is capable of giving rise to progeny in all defined hematolymphoid lineages: limiting numbers of stem cells are capable of fully reconstituting lethally irradiated mice, leading to their long-term survival. In humans, the CD34⁺ Thy-1⁺ Lin⁻ hematopoietic stem cells are the equivalent of the murine c-kit⁺ Thy-1.1^(lo) Lin^(−/lo) Sca-1⁺ (KTLS) hematopoietic stem cells and are a virtually pure population of multilineage hematopoietic stem cells. Human hematopoietic stem cells present on their surfaces the markers CD34, thy-1, SCA-1 and SCA-2; and are negative for lineage specific markers which may include glycophorin A, CD3, CD24, CD16, CD14, CD38, CD45RA, CD36, CD2, CD19, CD56, CD66a, and CD66b; T cell specific markers, tumor specific markers, etc. Markers useful for identification of mesodermal stem cells include FcγRII, FcγRIII, Thy-1, CD44, VLA-4α, LFA-1β, HSA, ICAM-1, CD45, Aa4.1, Sca-1, etc. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,035,994; 5,061,620; 5,061,620; and Terstappen et al. (1992) Blood 79:666-677).

In another embodiment, the mobilized/recruited stem cells are neural crest stem cells. Neural crest stem cells are positive for low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR), and negative for the markers sulfatide, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), myelin protein P_(o), peripherin and neurofilament.

In an embodiment of particular interest, the cells mobilized and recruited cells are endothelial progenitor cells.

Exemplary conditions amenable to treatment by mobilization/recruitment of stem/progenitor cells include, but are not necessarily limited to ischemia, immune deficiency disorders (e.g., neutropenia, leukopenia, acquired immunodeficiencies, etc.), and hemophilia (e.g., acquired hemophilia). The methods of the invention can also be used in the treatment of damage that results from injury (e.g., mechanical, physical, chemical, radiation, nuclear, autoimmune, pathogen-mediated injury, and the like).

Conditions amenable to treatment by mobilization/recruitment of stem cells and/or progenitor cells can result from any of a variety of causes. For example, reduction of a mature cell population can be a direct or secondary effect of a disease or injury, can result from treatment of a disease or injury (e.g., as in chemotherapy for treatment of cancer). For example, neutropenia, a condition associated with depletion of neutrophils, can result from bone marrow damage from certain types of leukemia, lymphoma or metastatic cancer; adverse reactions to medication such as a diuretics or antibiotics; therapies that can cause depletion of immune cells, e.g., radiation treatment or chemotherapy; viral infections cause by, for example, EBV virus (e.g., infectious mononucleosis), HIV, and the like; bacterial infections (e.g., tuberculosis); or autoimmune diseases (e.g., systemic lupus erythromatosis).

EXAMPLES

The following examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors regard as their invention nor are they intended to represent that the experiments below are all or the only experiments performed. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers used (e.g. amounts, temperature, etc.) but some experimental errors and deviations should be accounted for. Unless indicated otherwise, parts are parts by weight, molecular weight is weight average molecular weight, temperature is in degrees Centigrade, and pressure is at or near atmospheric. Standard abbreviations may be used, e.g., bp, base pair(s); kb, kilobase(s); pl, picoliter(s); s, second(s); min, minute(s); hr, hour(s); aa, amino acid(s); kb, kilobase(s); bp, base pair(s); nt, nucleotide(s); and the like.

Materials and Methods

The following is a description of the methods and materials used in the specific examples below.

Animals

Eight to ten week old female wild type C57BL/6J mice were used. The mice weighed 20-25 grams (Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, Me. and Department of Comparative Medicine (DCM), Stanford, Calif.), and were maintained as previously described (Maxwell et al. (1998) Circulation 1998 98(4):369-374).

Disc Angiogenesis System (DAS)

To study whether nicotine induces angiogenesis in vivo, we employed the disc angiogenesis system (DAS) (Kowalski et al. (1992) Exp Mol Pathol 56(1):1-19; Fajardo et al. (1998) Lab Invest 58:718-7244).

Preparation of the disc The DAS consisted of a disc (11 mm in diameter and 1 mm thickness) made of a polyvinyl alcohol sponge (Kanebo PVA, Rippey Co., Santa Clara, Calif.). Both sides were covered with nitrocellulose cell-impermeable filters (Millipore filters, 0.45 μm in pore diameter, Millipore, SF, Calif.) of the same diameter as the sponge disc, fixed to the sponge using Millipore glue #1 (xx70000.00, Millipore). As a result, cells (and thus vessels) could penetrate or exit only through the rim of the disc (Kowalski et al. (1992) Exp Mol Pathol 56(1):1-19; Fajardo et al. (1998) Lab Invest 58:718-7244).

In order to study the local effect of nicotine on angiogenesis, nicotine was placed in a pellet which was added directly to the disc. Briefly, a 1.5-mm core (pellet) was cut from the disc center. Both the pellets and discs were sterilized prior to assembly in a laminar flow hood. The pellet was loaded with up to 20 mcl (μl) of the nicotine solution and subsequently air-dried. We placed in the disc pellets with either vehicle (PBS, Sigma, Chemical Co., St Louis, Mo., n=5) or nicotine (10-6 M, Aldrich Chemical Company, Milwaukee, Wis., n=5) to study the effects of locally administered nicotine. For comparison, in some cases basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF; 20 mcg) or Del-1 protein (0.2 M) was added to the pellet, rather than nicotine. Both bFGF and Del-1 are known to induce angiogenesis. The pellet was then coated with ethylene-vinyl acetate co-polymer (Elvax, Dupont, Chemcentral Corp., Chicago, Ill.) which would permit slow release of the nicotine from the pellet into the disc. The pellet was then re-inserted into the disc before sealing the disc with the millipore filters.

To study the systemic effects of nicotine, in some cases the animals were administered nicotine in their drinking water (see below).

Implantation of the disc The mice were anesthetized with 4% chloralhydrate [intraperitoneal administration (i.p.), 0.1 cc/10 g body weight]. The flanks and posterior surface of the thorax were shaved and cleaned with saturated 70% isopropyl alcohol. A 2-cm incision was made in the skin of the flank contra-lateral to the implantation site. Blunt dissection through the subcutaneous tissue produced a channel into which the saline moistened disc was inserted. The skin was closed with 5.0 silk suture (Kowalski et al. (1992) Exp Mol Pathol 56(1):1-19; Fajardo et al. (1998) Lab Invest 58:718-7244).

Disc removal and preparation Two weeks after disc implantation, the mice were sacrificed with an overdose of 4% chloral hydrate (i.p.) and cervical dislocation. A careful incision was made next to the skin overlying the implanted disc, and the disc was gently removed from the implantation site. Attached tissue was carefully detached from the disc. After removing the disc, one filter was separated from the disc. Discs were then fixed in 10% formalin and embedded flat in paraffin. Subsequently, 5 μm sections were made in a plane through the center of the disc and parallel to the disc surface.

Quantitation of results The disc sections were stained with H&E for light microscopy and histomorphometric measurement of radial growth, and stained with toluidine blue for quantitative determination of total area of fibrovascular growth. Using a video microscope and a computer assisted digital image analysis system (NIH Image 1.59b9), the entire area of fibrovascular growth in the toluidine blue stained disc was calculated and expressed in mm². As described in a previous study, total fibrovascular growth area is directly proportional to the total area of the disc occupied by blood vessels (Kowalski et al. (1992) Exp Mol Pathol 56(1):1-19; Fajardo et al. (1998) Lab Invest 58:718-7244). Therefore, the measurement of such total area is used as an index of angiogenesis (Kowalski et al. (1992), supra; Fajardo et al. (1998), supra).

Vascular continuity assessment To visualize the microvessels in the disc sections and to establish that there was continuity between the systemic and disc vasculatures, luconyl blue dye was injected into the left carotid artery prior to euthanizing the mice. Animals were anesthetized using 4% chloralhydrate (i.p., 0.1 cc/10 g body weight). An incision was made in the ventral midline of the neck. After the carotid sheath was exposed, the left carotid artery was separated from the neurovascular bundle and secured by two 4.0 silk sutures. An incision was made in the carotid and a 15-cm length of PE10 tubing (Beckton Dickinson, Sparks Md.) was introduced into the carotid artery and advanced to the ascending aorta just distal to the aortic valve. About 1.0 ml of luconyl blue was then slowly injected from a 1 ml syringe through the tubing into the thoracic aorta. The presence of blue dye in the fibrovascular network in the disc was detected by light microscopy. Microscopy revealed microvessels lined by a single layer of endothelium and erythrocytes contained within their lumen. Luconyl blue dye was observed throughout the vessels of the disc.

Murine Ischemic Hind Limb Model of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Mice were anesthetized with 4% chloral hydrate [intraperitoneal administration (i.p.), 0.1 cc/10 g body weight). The medial surface of both hind limbs were shaved and then cleaned with betadine solution. A 1.5-cm longitudinal incision was performed, extending from the knee to the inguinal ligament. Through this incision, the superficial femoral artery was dissected free along its length. After the distal ends of both the external iliac and superficial femoral arteries were ligated with 7.0 (Ethicon), complete excision of the femoral artery was performed. An additional set of mice underwent sham operation. The incisions were then closed with discontinuous stitches of 5.0 silk suture (Ethicon). Ampicillin (1 mg/10 gm body weight) intraperitoneal injection was administered after surgical procedure.

Histological Studies

Tissue Preparation. Three weeks after surgery, mice were euthanized with an overdose of 4% chloral hydrate (i.p) and cervical dislocation, and the adductor and semimembranous muscles were collected for capillary density assessment. Briefly, a longitudinal incision in the medial thigh was made to expose the entire hindlimb muscle. The adductor and semimembranous muscles were removed and immediately frozen in OCT. Subsequently, sections 5 μm were taken from the mid-region of each muscle in a transverse orientation. The sections were air dried and fixed in acetone.

Capillary Densitometry. Immunohistochemistry was performed using an alkaline phosphatase assay to identify the endothelial cells. An eosin counterstain was used to differentiate myocytes. Capillaries and myocytes were identified and counted using light microscopy (20×). For each section, four different fields were selected and the total number of capillaries and myocytes per field determined. These values were averaged to provide a determination of capillary density for each experimental limb. To ensure that value for capillary density was not overestimated due to muscle atrophy, or underestimated due to interstitial edema, capillary density was expressed as a ratio of capillaries to myocytes present in the same field.

Data Analysis

All data are given as mean +/−SEM. Statistical significance was tested using unpaired, two-tailed t-test for comparisons between groups. Statistical significance was accepted for p<0.05.

Example 1 Systemic Effect of Nicotine Upon Angiogenesis in Vivo

To study the effects of nicotine in systemically treated mice, nicotine (60 mcg/ml, n=5) was diluted in the drinking water. The mechanism of nicotine-induced angiogenesis was studied by giving oral supplementation of indomethacin (20 mcg/ml, Sigma, n=5) and/or LNNA (6 mg/ml, Sigma, n=5) to mice having an implanted DAS both locally treated (nicotine inside the DAS) and systemically treated (nicotine diluted in drinking water). Concentrations of nicotine, indomethacin, and LNNA were determined in accordance to studies using oral supplementation of these agents in murine models (Maxwell et al. (1998) Circulation 1998 98(4):369-374; Fulton et al. (1980) Int J Cancer 26(5):669-73; Rowell et al. (1983) J Pharmacological Methods 9:249-261).

Under basal conditions (untreated water, vehicle-treated disc), fibrovascular growth into the disc occurred. Vessels could be seen growing into the disc. These vessels were in continuity with the systemic circulation as manifested by the influx of leuconyl dye into the disc vasculature, after systemic administration of the dye. The area of the fibrovascular growth into the disc under basal conditions was somewhat greater than 10 mm² (FIG. 2). With systemic administration of nicotine, there was a dramatic increase in fibrovascular growth with an area of 35 mm² (FIG. 2). The effect of nicotine was blocked by the NO synthase inhibitor L, nitro-arginine (LNNA) as well as by indomethacin, indicating that synthesis of both nitric oxide and prostacyclin were required for the angiogenic effect of nicotine.

Example 2 Local Effect of Nicotine Upon Angiogenesis in Vivo

In order to determine if local administration of L-arginine could be effective at inducing angiogenesis, in some animals, nicotine was placed within a pellet that was inserted into the disc angiogenesis system (described above). When nicotine was placed in the disc (rather than administered in the water of the animals as described in Example 1) a similar effect was observed. The fibrovascular growth under basal conditions (about 10 mm²) was increased to about 20 mm² (FIG. 3). Again, indomethacin or LNNA blocked the effects of nicotine. These studies indicate that systemic or local administration of nicotine induces angiogenesis.

Example 3 Comparison of Effects of Nicotine with Other Angiogenic Agents

The effects of nicotine were compared with the angiogenic agents bFGF and Dell. The comparison with bFGF is particularly important because this agent is already in clinical trials in humans for therapeutic angiogenesis. In comparison to vehicle, bFGF, Dell, and nicotine each increased angiogenesis to the same degree. Systemically administered nicotine enhanced angiogenesis to a much greater degree than locally administered bFGF and Del-1 (FIG. 4). Paradoxically, the effect of systemic nicotine administration was greater than local nicotine administration, even though systemic nicotine administration undoubtedly produced lower local levels in the disc. This paradox led the investigators to consider that the systemic administration of nicotine was inducing vasculogenesis (recruitment of endothelial precursors from the bone marrow) as well as local angiogenesis (see Example 5 below). Intermediate doses of nicotine administered intramuscularly had the greatest effect. At higher intramuscular doses of nicotine, less angiogenesis is observed.

Example 4 Induction of Angiogenesis in the Murine Hindlimb Ischemia Model of Peripheral Arterial Disease

To provide more compelling evidence for the therapeutic angiogenic effects of nicotine, the angiogenic effects of nicotine were examined in a model of arterial occlusive disease, the murine ischemic hindlimb (described above). Daily intramuscular injections of nicotine solution or vehicle were administered (50 μl) for a period of three weeks. Five groups of animals received 0, 3, 30, 300 or 3200 ng/kg of nicotine by intramuscular injection daily (represented in FIGS. 6 and 7 as 1× (0.0811 ng nicotine in 50 μl saline (=0.003 μg/kg), 10× (0.811 ng nicotine in 50 μl saline (=0.03 μg/kg), 100× (8.11 ng nicotine in 50 μl saline (=0.3 μg/kg), and 1000× (81.1 ng nicotine in 50 μl saline (=3.2 μg/kg)). As shown in FIG. 5, 3 weeks after surgery, capillary density (capillaries/myocyte) was increased in operated limbs (ischemic) in comparison to non-operated limbs (non-ischemic) consistent with a basal angiogenic response to ischemia.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, nicotine enhanced the angiogenic response to ischemia relative to controls. With vehicle control, 0.35 capillaries/myocyte were detected in the ischemic limb. At an intermediate dose of 0.03 μg/kg, nicotine nearly doubled angiogenic response (to 0.67 capillaries/myocyte). At the highest dose of nicotine, angiogenesis was not increased; indeed at this dose some toxicity was observed, with evidence of interstitial edema and myocyte necrosis. The angiogenic effect remained local to the site of nicotine injection, since no angiogenic effect was detected in a non-ischemic hindlimbs (FIG. 6). Thus, local intramuscular administration of these doses of nicotine did not result in a systemic angiogenic effect.

These studies indicate that nicotine enhances angiogenesis in a murine model of human peripheral arterial disease, and that nicotine receptor agonists are useful for therapeutic angiogenesis.

Example 5 Nicotine Induces Angiogenesis by Recruitment of Endothelial Progenitor Cells

In order to further examine the role of nicotine in induction of angiogenesis, the recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells was studied. The model of mouse parabiosis, in which cross-circulation is established between two individuals (Eichwald, et al. (1963) J Natl Cancer Inst 30:783-94; Weissman et al. (1984) Transplantation 37:3-6), is an ideal assay for tracking the migration of circulating cells with endothelial potential to sites of angiogenesis in vivo. Cells arising from one partner can be differentiated from the other by virtue of stable genetic markers such as sex chromosomes or the presence of a reporter transgene such as LacZ (FIG. 8). The goal is to eliminate biases inherent in models that require pre-selection of a given cell type, and to avoid manipulations (such as total body irradiation) required to overcome immunological or physiological barriers between the putative precursor cells and the experimental hosts. The use of highly inbred laboratory mice allows unparalleled versatility in the use of congenic and transgenic markers to perform lineage-tracking experiments. The parabiotic mouse model is an excellent model for studying the biology and genetic program of endothelial progenitors, and in establishing the role of circulating precursors in the development of perivascular supporting structures.

Parabiotic mouse pairs were created to investigate the mobilization and incorporation of precursors to vessel formation in normal and ischemic conditions using a hind limb ischemia model of angiogenesis (as described above), and the effect of nicotine. The parabiotic partners were selected so that they shared all major histocompatibility antigens, and were therefore free of immunological barriers to cell migration and angiogenesis. Assaying for genetic markers unique to one animal of the pair (e.g., the Y chromosome where the pair is made up of a female mouse and a male mouse) provides for unambiguous cell tracking between the mice. The model is further optimized by the use of a second genetic marker to differential the individuals (e.g., a transgene present in one partner and not the other), thus increasing the sensitivity and the accuracy of the identification of the origin of single cells.

Ten week old male mice (mouse A: either a C57/B16 ROSA 26 mice (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Me.) or a tie-2-LacZ (“Sato”) transgenic mouse (Schlager et al (1995) Development 121(4):1089-98; Schlager et al. (1997) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94(7):3058-63) that has endothelial specific β-galactosidase expression), which constitutively express the LacZ transgene, were surgically joined to a female age and strain-matched mice (mouse B: either C57/B6 (LacZ⁻⁻) mouse (to be joined with the ROSA26 mouse) or a C57B16 mouse (to be joined with the tie-2-LacZ mouse) by making a continuous unilateral skin incision between the fore and hindlimb joints of each mouse. An anastomosis of the leg joints and the skin with its adherent subcutaneous tissue of mouse A to mouse B was then made with nylon sutures, and the mice allowed to recover. Previous studies using this model have shown that cross-circulation is reliably established within 2 weeks (Eichwald, et al. (1963) J Natl Cancer Inst 30:783-94; Weissman et al. (1984) Transplantation 37:3-6). Cross-circulation in these animals was confirmed by tracking the flow of Evans blue dye from mouse A to mouse B following intravenous injection. In addition, peripheral blood leukocytes (pbls) were tested for contributions from each partner by FACS-gal staining (Fiering et al. (1991) Cytometry 12:291-301) or Y-chromosome FISH to guarantee that both cells and plasma freely interchange. Weissman et al. have shown previously that parabiosis of syngeneic males to females does not result in a detectable anti H-Y immune response (Weissman et al. (1984) Transplantation 37:3-6).

The LacZ⁻ females were exposed to hindlimb ischemia whereas the LacZ⁺ males were not. Test mice were treated with nicotine systemically by adding nicotine to the drinking water (0.1 g/L drinking water). Control mice did not receive nicotine in their drinking water. Five pairs of parabiotic mice were included in each of the test and control groups.

Ischemic and non-ischemic hindlimbs were removed from the female mice at 3 weeks after induction of the ischemia and examined for the presence of cells derived from their male partners. The phenotype of the cells in the hindlimbs were evaluated using histology methods by confocal microscopy. Double staining for CD 31 and β-galactosidase identified EPCs derived from the transgenic mouse. EPC frequency was defined as the number of vessels containing transgenic endothelial cells divided by the total vessels examined in representative sections.

Results

Examination of ischemic hind limbs from the legs of control and nicotine-treated female partners joined with a Sato/tie-2/LacZ transgenic male showed that EPCs from Sato mouse crossed over to the area of angiogenesis in the female mouse and incorporated into new vessels. These EPCs were readily identified as they were double stained for CD 31 (endothelial marker) and β-galactosidase (which is under endothelial cell-specific tie-2 promoter control in the Sato mice).

The results are illustrated graphically in FIG. 9. The percentage of vessels that incorporated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) during angiogenesis in response to hind limb ischemia was low in the saline group (1.6%). However, stimulation of the native angiogenic response by nicotine resulted in a significant increase in the number of vessels and in the percentage of vessels that incorporated EPC (7.3%; P<0.001).

Example 5 Nicotine Increases Long-Term and Short-Term Populations of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Methods

Mice (C57B16j) were given solution containing vehicle (0.4% saccharine in distilled water) or nicotine (100 μg/ml) ad libitum in their drinking water. After 6 weeks, peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen were harvested. Cell counts were obtained in the blood, spleen and bone marrow, and bone marrow cells were isolated for fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS). To detect hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), fluorescently labeled antibodies directed against the following antigens were used: Lineage antigens (CD3,4,5, and 8; B220; Gr1, Mac1 and Ter119), cKit, Sca 1, and Flk2. HSCs were conventionally defined as Lin−, cKit+, Sca1+, and Flk2+. All cells were stained with PI (propidium iodide) to separate live from dead cells.

Results

At the time of sacrifice, the mice appeared healthy. Nicotine levels were measured, and found to be in the range observed in the plasma of light to moderate smokers (87 ng/ml). In the nicotine treated animals, white blood cell count was elevated (FIG. 10). Thus, oral administration of nicotine increases the peripheral white blood cell count (WBC).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, the cellularity of the bone marrow and the spleen were increased. FIG. 11 presents data showing that oral administration of nicotine increases bone marrow and spleen cellularity (i.e., the total cellular population of BM and spleen is increased). As shown in FIG. 12, FACS analysis of the bone marrow cell population revealed a significant increase in hematopoietic stem cells (kit/sca⁺ cells). This was due to equal increases in the long term HSCs (self-renewing cells), and an increase in the short term HSCs (which are destined to differentiate into progenitors), as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, respectively.

The data indicate that nicotine increases hematopoietic stem cells, both the short and long term subpopulations. Furthermore, this increase in HSCs leads to an increase in the cellularity of the bone marrow and spleen, as well as an increase in the white blood cell count. These data indicate that nicotine receptor agonists enhance stem cell and progenitor cell populations, and are therefore useful for treating deficiencies related to insufficient amounts of these cells, or injuries or dysfunctions that may be responsive to stem cell therapy. These deficiencies include a variety of conditions, including blood dyscrasias such as neutropenia; or insufficient blood supply as is observed in myocardial ischemia and heart failure.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, process, process step or steps, to the objective, spirit and scope of the present invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

1. A method for stimulating proliferation and mobilization of stem cells or their progeny in a mammal, the method comprising administering to a mammal a nicotine receptor agonist in an amount effective to stimulate a stem cell or progeny thereof to proliferate and to mobilize from bone marrow of the mammal to a treatment site in the mammal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the nicotine receptor agonist is nicotine, a nicotine salt, a nicotine derivative, a nicotine metabolite, or a derivative of a nicotine metabolite.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said administering is by local administration.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said administering is by systemic administration.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said administering is oral.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said administering is parenteral.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said administering is intramuscular.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said administering is intravascular.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment site is in the bloodstream of the mammal.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment site is in the peripheral circulation.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment site is a wound or ulcer.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the stem cell is of hematopoietic or mesenchymal lineage.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the agonist is effective to stimulate incorporation of circulating stem cells or progeny thereof into the treatment site.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the agonist is effective to promote wound healing at the treatment site.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the agonist is effective to treat a disorder associated with a reduction in immune cells.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the disorder is neutropenia, leukopenia, or an acquired immunodeficiency.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the acquired immunodeficiency results from radiation therapy.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the acquired immunodeficiency results from cancer chemotherapy.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the agonist is effective to increase immune cells in the mammal prior to obtaining cells from the mammal for use in bone marrow transplantation.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the agonist is effective to increase the number of white blood cells in the peripheral blood.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the agonist is effective to increase the number of long-term hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the agonist is effective to increase the number of short-term hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the agonist is selected from cotinine, norcotinine, nicotine N-oxide, cotinine N-oxide, 3-hydroxycotinine, and 5-hydroxycotinine. 